Service Updates & Upcoming Public Holidays – w/c 27th July

Here you will find the latest global service updates and a list of upcoming worldwide public holidays. This is updated throughout the week with latest information available.

Service Updates

GENERAL: Although Operation Stack had started to clear (as previously advised) and delays to the continent were reducing, new protests and unrest on the French side of the border has caused delays to both Channel Tunnel and ferry bound freight traffic. Operation stack is now fully back in place with queues currently at 6+ hours for the Channel Tunnel and approximately 5 hours for ferry bound freight traffic (as of 17:00 UK time – 23/07/15). At present only 3 of the 4 berths are available at Calais and road blockages on the French access roads to the Channel Tunnel are causing these delays amongst other issues. Additionally, roads towards and around the ports on both sides of the Channel are heavily congested and this is causing further delays. Ongoing (issue start date: 23/06/15 – updated 23/07/15)

Australia – Australia Post have informed us that staff of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Services will be taking industrial action each day from Monday, 15 June 2015 until further notice. This action will range from go-slows to full walk-outs. Delays should be expected.

UPDATE: Australia Post have informed us that the industrial action by customs staff has now been put on hold as negotiations have resumed. It is however possible that the strike action will re-commence but this is dependent on the outcome of the resumed negotiations. As per the last update on 6th July,the impact to mail sent from overseas during the strike was minimal as Australia Post worked with customs management to reduce the impact of the industrial action. Resolved (issue start date: 15/06/15 – updated 14/07/15)

Australia – Heavy snowfall snowfall in New South Wales has resulted in the closure of motorways and other roads, making the delivery of mail difficult or not possible. Delays are to be expected. Ongoing (issue start date: 16/07/15)

China – High volumes of mail arriving in Shanghai and Guangzhou are resulting in backlogs and capacity issues for China Post. Delays to mail services are likely. Ongoing (issue start date: 03/11/14)

France – We have been informed by La Poste that between 20th and 22nd July, road blocks in the CAEN region in France were erected by demonstrating farmers.. La Poste has stated that delays of upto 2 days occurred in the delivery and collection of mail/parcels during this time in the following post code areas: 14xxx, 50xxx and 61xxx. Additionally a small backlog of mail meant subsequent delays until normal service resumed on 25th July. Resolved (issue start date: 20/07/15)

France – La Poste are experiencing problems with their tracking system for mail. Only letter mail and tracked items are affected.

UPDATE: Intermittent problems at La Poste with tracking/shipment information persist. La Poste have reported that delays should not occur in the delivery of the affected products but tracking visibility and status updates may be unavailable. Resolved (issue start date: 26/06/15 – updated 06/07/15)

Germany – We have received further communication from Deutsche Post that the German worker’s union Ver.di will be carrying out further strike action. The latest action commenced on Monday 8th June and affects all 82 mail sorting centres. As of the 25th June, action is still ongoing and has now expanded due to the union DPVKom joining the strike. There are now approx. 32,000 postal workers on strike in Germany. Significant delays are to be expected.

UPDATE: Deutsche Post have informed us that the current strike action should end on 7th July. Delays are still expected over the next week until backlogs are cleared and normal operations resume. Resolved (issue start date: 01/05/15 – updated 07/07/15)

Nepal – An earthquake, approximately 50 miles north west of Kathmandu, has caused severe damage in northern Nepal. Severe disruption to mail services nationwide is to be expected.

UPDATE: All mail services in Nepal have been officially suspended and Kathmandu Airport is now closed to all commercial cargo due to the humanitarian relief effort in the region. Ongoing (issue start date: 27/04/15 – updated 30/04/15)

Netherlands – Post NL has informed us that union workers have been taking strike action in localised areas since Tuesday 14th July. Information on the regions/areas affected isn’t currently available. In large parts of the country, mail is expected to be delivered as normal but in the areas where the strike action is taking place, deliveries are expected to be slower than usual.

UPDATE: Strike action taken by the union workers in Post NL, Netherlands has ended. Delivery services in the affected areas have returned to normal and Post NL are working through the backlogs caused by the strike action. Mail services are expected to be back to normal from Monday 27 July. Resolved (issue start date: 14/07/15 – updated 27/07/15)

Spain – The Spanish post office (Correos ES) has reported that trade unions have called for a partial strike in Correos’ Madrid facilities (Madrid 28000 – 28999) for Thursday 30th April. This includes Madrid OE, sorting centre (Madrid CTA), delivery units and postal offices and is scheduled to run for 4 hours. As consequence all inbound and outbound processes could be severely affected during this time, not only services from/to Madrid area, and could cause serious delays and backlog during 1st May (national holiday), 2nd May (regional holiday in Madrid) and 3rd May.

UPDATE: Further strike action has taken place intermittently throughout May. Although the last strike was on the 15th May and the subsequent backlog cleared, there is a possibility of further strike action. We will advise accordingly as and when any action is announced. Ongoing(issue start date: 30/04/15 – updated 26/05/15)